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Why Taste Is Pharmacology

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The Pharmacology of Taste

Part of the book series: Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology ((HEP,volume 275))

Abstract

The chapter presents an argument supporting the view that taste, defined as the receptor-mediated signaling of taste cells and consequent sensory events, is proper subject matter for the field of pharmacology. The argument develops through a consideration of how the field of pharmacology itself is to be defined. Though its application toward the discovery and development of therapeutics is of obvious value, pharmacology nevertheless is a basic science committed to examining biological phenomena controlled by the selective interactions between chemicals – regardless of their sources or uses – and receptors. The basic science of pharmacology is founded on the theory of receptor occupancy, detailed here in the context of taste. The discussion then will turn to consideration of the measurement of human taste and how well the results agree with the predictions of receptor theory.

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Acknowledgements

Dr. Palmer is cofounder of and a shareholder in Opertech Bio., Inc. Some of the technology described in Sect. 4.3 (Fig. 5) is used for commercial purposes by Opertech Bio., Inc.

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  1. Opertech Bio, Inc., Philadelphia, PA, USA

    R. Kyle Palmer

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  1. Opertech Bio, Inc., Philadelphia, PA, USA

    R. Kyle Palmer

  2. Research and Development, Firmenich, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA

    Guy Servant

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Palmer, R.K. (2022). Why Taste Is Pharmacology. In: Palmer, R.K., Servant, G. (eds) The Pharmacology of Taste . Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology, vol 275. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/164_2022_589

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